The Department of Pedodontics and Preventive dentistry aims to impart quality education in the field of Pediatric dentistry at both undergraduate and postgraduate level, and provide quality dental care to all children. These objectives are imparted both at clinical level, in the department and at field levels through various rural and school health programmes.

The department was seeded in 1987 under the leadership of Dr. Shamsudeen Moopen and took over by Prof. Dr. A.K Munshi in 1990 who started the post graduate section in the department, and remained in office until 2000. The hold of office was then handed over to Sr. Prof. Dr. Amitha M. Hegde who currently is the department head.  Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry deals with diagnosis, prevention and treatment of all aspects of dental diseases both in deciduous and permanent teeth including associated structures. The department is well equipped with all the latest infrastructure which helps in the course of diagnosis and treatment planning of a particular patient. The department is kids friendly and kept in par to the specifications given by the dental council of India. There is a special intradepartmental body formed in the name of N-SPECC headed by Sr. Prof. Dr. Amitha M. Hegde, which focuses on patients who are dependent on care takers for their day to day living and those with special health care needs or handicapped children who are identified from the community, brought to the department for necessary oral health care and medical treatment procedures.

Departmental operatory is colourful, vibrant and child friendly with cheerful play area parent counselling room. Both undergraduate, post graduate and PhD scholars associated with the department and every student follow a comprehensive academic programme as well as an advance clinical training programme as a part of their curriculum. A part from the academic and clinical procedures the department has a keen focus on research methodology. Every Post graduate students is encouraged in the field of research and has to do their certain set of dissertation, short projects and publication as a part of their curriculum. Each post graduate follows an extensive training program under the guidance of highly qualified dynamic and experienced faculty. Department is conducting regular school dental health programs including awareness and regular dental check-up camps providing preventive and therapeutic oral health care needs.

Faculty :

Courses offered: BDS,MDS,PhD

BDS :-

Areas of study

Undergraduate training program
Theory classes- The undergraduate students begin with lectures in Pedodontia in the III year of BDS and these lectures cover all aspects of Pedodontics and Preventive dentistry. The classes are taken both with teaching aids such as LCD projectors and OHPs as well as extempore so as to promote interactive learning.

Bench exercises- Before taking up clinical cases, the students are required to complete pre clinical bench exercises. The students are only permitted to take up patients after completing the bench exercises and giving a satisfactory viva voice on the same.

Clinical training- Detailed case history and discussion, Oral prophylaxis, Restorative procedures, Extractions, Topical fluoride applications.

Clinical training (assistance / guidance)- pulp therapy and endodontics, interceptive orthodontics, treatment procedures under sedation and general anesthesia, laser surgery, minor oral surgical procedures and special child treatment protocoles. 

Seminar presentation- The students are required to present two seminars, one minor at the end of the III year BDS and a major seminar in the final year of BDS.

School dental health programme- All undergraduate students are expected to attend at least one school health camp, provide treatment and give an oral health talk for the students and their parents. A camp report is submitted to the department by each student.

Community programmes- Students are also encouraged to participate in community programmes such as treatment camps and awareness programmes

Project work- Students are required to submit a project in their final year which is usually related to the development of a teaching aid or the development of an aid for behavior management

Street plays- The students also help promote public awareness through street plays

Zero hour programme – Students are given the opportunity to interact freely with the staff through the zero hour programmes, whereby the student may ask any question to any staff member

Support short term research- The department supports short term research in the form of ICMR projects for the undergraduates, has collaborations with various schools and hospitals for medically compromised and special children where short term studies can be taken up and has its own advanced research laboratory, N-PARC Lab where research studies can be undertaken by undergraduates and postgraduates.

Evaluations/feedback- The students are regularly evaluated by means of class tests, at the end of postings and viva voce, in addition to the internal assessment exams prescribed by the University. The student feedback about the usefulness of the lectures is obtained through the student feedback form.

Dental Home– This concept was introduced to the pediatricians and medical professionals on the occasion of World Breast Feeding week on Aug 6, 2007.

MDS  :-

Postgraduate training program
Basic science- The postgraduate students are required to attend classes in basic sciences conducted in co-ordination with the various pre- and para-clinical departments of KSHEMA. In addition, the students are also given lectures in research methodology and biostatistics. The students are required to pass an exam in the above subjects to be promoted to the II MDS.

Bench work- The students perform an exhaustive list of pre-clinical exercises before proceeding to work on patients. This includes exercises on Dental anatomy, Prosthodontics, Orthodontics and Endodontics and Cleft rehabilitation.

Seminar presentation- The students present over 18 seminars each related to clinical pediatric dentistry and 5 seminars on basic dental sciences. In addition, each student presents seminars on basic sciences topics in KSHEMA. The student is also expected to present a seminar on the completion of postings in the department of paediatrics and anesthesia.

Journal club- is held every month. Articles are collected from current journal literature on a topic relevant to the subject.
Debates- in order to promote a comprehensive understanding of pediatric dentistry, the postgraduates are given a new and often controversial topic in pediatric dentistry. The debate is moderated by a senior professor. They are required to collect articles from the current literature to support their argument and at the end of the debate, a consensus is achieved.

Panel discussions– are held periodically to update the students on latest innovations, current and controversial topics in pediatric dentistry.

Interdepartmental medical/dental postings-
Department of Paediatrics: The postgraduates are posted in the Department of Paediatrics, KSHEMA. for 2 one-month postings. During this period, the postgraduates undergo training in the basic concepts of paediatrics including growth, development and paediatric drug prescription. The students are also required to present a seminar at the end of the posting. During their posting, the students provide comprehensive oral health care to the patients admitted in the paediatric wards. Department of Anaesthesia: The postgraduates are posted for 2 one-month postings in the department of KSHEMA. During this period, they undergo training in basic and advanced life support and acquire knowledge pertaining to conscious sedation and general anaesthesia as applied to paediatric dentistry. The students also perform procedures such as endotracheal intubation and cannulation under the supervision of an anaesthesiologist. The students are required to present a seminar at the end of the posting. Craniofacial Centre: The students are posted on rotation at the Nitte Meenakshi Memorial Institute of Craniofacial Surgery. The students provide non-surgical management of patients with cleft lip and palate, including obturators, feeding plates and nasoalveolar molding appliances. Clinical work /discussion-

Departmental: All special cases are presented to the teaching faculty of the department and a comprehensive treatment plan is formulated before the initiation of treatment. Transdepartmental: Cases with multidisciplinary aspects are discussed with the senior faculty of other departments to ensure comprehensive oral care for the child. Growth clinic- for the examination, diagnosis and non-surgical management of patients with growth deficiency including myofunctional therapy and pre-surgical growth modifications.

Cleft posting– Postgraduates carry out treatment procedures in the department for dental rehabilitation of children with cleft lip and palate, on a monthly basis.

N-SPECC– Special child project is taken up to cater to the dental rehabilitation and needs of children with special needs.
Zero hour programme- Students are given the opportunity to interact freely with the staff through the zero hour programmes, whereby the student may ask any question to any staff member.

Total ora/l health rehabilitation- The postgraduates are trained in the administration of complete oral health rehabilitation under General Anaesthesia. The students may post their cases in the OT in KSHEMA, with one day (Friday) being allotted for their purpose.

School dental health programme- The postgraduate students are required to conduct screening and treatment camps at various schools in distant areas. In addition, each batch of postgraduates adopts a school where in comprehensive oral health care is provided to every student of the school. Preliminary screening and treatment such as oral prophylaxis, topical fluoride application and restoration are carried out at the camp while patients are referred to the department for treatment such as pulp therapy and extraction.

Library dissertation- All postgraduates are expected to compile a library dissertation reviewing the current literature available on a topic of current interest in the subject.

Rural centers– Clinical services are rendered by postgraduates at the rural satellite centers.

Research programme- Students are encouraged to take up parallel studies in addition to the thesis work required by the University.

Department Awards/Achievements/Highlights :-

AWARDS:

Curricular Activities /  Awards: Alumini

Curricular Activities /  Awards:  Staff and P.G. Student

Curricular Activities /  Awards:  U.G. Student   

3. Sports and Culutural Activities /  Awards: Staff and  P.G. Student                       

Research projects (2015-2017) :- 

• External Projects
  • Completed Projects in Numbers
  • Ongoing Projects in Numbers
• Nitte Projects
  • Completed Projects in Numbers : 6
  • Ongoing Projects in Numbers :11

Outreach Program, Place, Date  and Patients Statistics  for one year  (If Applicable)

SCHOOL PROGRAMME

Patient statistics: in numbers and graphs. (Last Five Years)